New York State Insider: New York State Senator Pete Harckham: 2023-24 State Budget – Progress and Prosper.

Fiscal plan fully funds education, improves healthcare access, boosts economic opportunities

I am pleased to announce that the State Legislature has passed the FY2024 State Budget that includes funding to support education, improve healthcare access and create more economic opportunities while also focusing on issues like affordability, public safety and climate change.   Many New Yorkers, especially middle-class workers, students and seniors, are still struggling to get back on their feet and recover economically and emotionally from the Covid-19 pandemic, and this new State Budget addresses their needs. The best way to strengthen our communities statewide is to support our workforce and small businesses, help children succeed in school and make important and equitable investments in areas that truly make a difference in people’s lives - housing, mental health and our environment. Those are some of the priorities addressed in this budget, and I thank Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins for her leadership during this budget process.   Some highlights:

$43.5 billion support for local schools with $530 million state aid in the 40th Senate District, fulfilling our commitment to quality education for all NY’s children with additional funding for every school in our district and funds for Universal Pre-K & School Meals; $1 billion for mental healthcare, the largest investment in a generation, to increase inpatient psychiatric treatment capacity, dramatically expanding outpatient services, and boosting insurance coverage; $347 million to fund evidence-based gun violence reduction programs; $118 million to support a capital fund for volunteer firefighters; $3 Million for study of Routes 35 and 202 and Bear Mountain Parkway; $2.4 million for 2-1-1 community service information hosted by United Way of Westchester and Putnam

Many of the initiatives in the new budget will have a strong and positive impact on the 40th Senate District, particularly in areas such as rising utility costs, public safety, youth programs, volunteer firefighters and veterans. https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/pete-harckham/harckham-welcomes-fy2024-state-budget-helping-new-yorkers?emci=d2007892-52eb-ed11-8e8b-00224832eb73&emdi=cda0564f-16ec-ed11-8e8b-00224832eb73&ceid=5849510

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